People in the media are talking about faith every day. Look up your favorite media source online, MSNBC, CNN, Fox or whoever and you will find a story that has something to do with the topic of faith. Not every story is a positive one, especially when it comes to politics but seeing the topic have so much attention is inspiring. Christ is in the news and I think we should keep him there.

In the last national election in the United States there was no question that values came into play more than expected. For some this was an unwanted intrusion by so called “radical right wing nuts” or “Bible thumping zealots”. There was a shift in the rhetoric once the force of value based agendas altered pre-conceived election results and today there is a noticeable amount of pandering towards people of faith. Faith based people have a voice in the election process, and to a politician a vote is a vote.

A vote is cast once and then is forgotten. It is a minor murmur in the crescendo of voices that surround us. But there is a stronger lever that Christians can wield than the power of the vote, our money. Unlike a vote we can make our presence known every day and in every portion of this nation by making choices with our money.

We can choose to support business and products that promote our values and to avoid those things that do not. We can quietly but collectively remove ourselves from companies or businesses that are diametrically opposed to our values. We can affect change in the products and services that survive by making simple choices.

Imagine the reaction in Hollywood if Christians stopped going to movies that glorified death, sex and profanity. If all rated R movies suddenly lost Christian dollars from tickets and concessions the affect would be impressive. It would rattle the very core of the business and production decisions would change. You can talk values all you want but take away money from a person and you get their attention in a special and intimate way. Instead of talking to them, they will want to talk to us.

Christmas is a perfect battleground for this. I am sick and tired of being told by stores that the words “Merry Christmas” are too offensive for display at the same time they beg me to purchase presents in their stores. I have had enough of the holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ being attacked for its values by the same people who earn 50% of their yearly sales from it.

I love having the chance to express my love for friends and family in the way of gift giving but from this year forward my shopping will be targeted, and Target will not be on the list. Happy Holidays is not a replacement for Merry Christmas and X-Mas signs do not mark the spot for my shopping experience. I have nothing against someone trying to make a living but if they can do it without spitting on my values I would appreciate it.

This year I would like see the news makers shocked and amazed at the radical turn around in fortunes for businesses that support Christian values at Christmas time.

Like the voting booth, I do not have a voice alone that can affect change. I go in and cast my vote alone but with faith that what I am doing is the right thing to do. I am changing my purchase habits in the same way. I hope and pray that enough of my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus can do the same.

In a society that is ruled by the God of money Christians have the upper hand. We have a God that is not affected or altered by the actions of his worshipers. Money is a weak and temperamental God, offering momentary satisfaction with a heavy cost. It is past time to cast off our feeling of fear from the current golden calf and put the fire of righteousness against it. Can you imagine the story on CNN?

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This was a well-written personal opinion piece. Your points (which I agree with!) were made in a clear, easy-to-read manner.
As Christians, we do need to step up to the plate and keep swinging until we actually connect with the ball.
Blessings, Lynda

Let me add my agreement to Dixie and Maxx: Send this as a letter to the editor this next Christmas season. We all need to vote with our dollars! That is the vote all of America will listen to! Blessings, and thanks for sharing,
Cheri